Flooding, thousands without power, in wake of storms

Roads were flooded and property was damaged after last night's thunderstorms.

Roads were flooded and property was damaged after last night's thunderstorms.

Staff report

Thunderstorms overnight flooded roads, tore down trees and left thousands of homes without power.

Midway Airport recorded nearly 2 inches of rain in an hour and half late Tuesday, according to Mike Bardou, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville.

There were reports of sporadic flash flooding at underpasses in Chicago, Bardou said. Flooding was also reported in Berwyn, Burr Ridge and Bolingbrook.

The storm also interrupted power service for tens of thousands of households.

As of a little after 8:30 a.m., about 3,400 customers in the Chicago area were still without power, according to ComEd spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney. That included 1,400 customers in the city and 1,700 customers in the south suburbs, she said. The other customers still without power were scattered through the west and north suburbs.

Officials predict wet and warm conditions will stick around for the rest of the week until Sunday, when temperatures are expected to fall and sunshine to return to the area.

WGN's Tom Skilling predicts the rain will continue throughout Friday, when there could be a combined total of up to 8 inches of rainfall in some areas.

Today's forecast is partly sunny with showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon hours, with highs in the mid 80s, officials said.

Thursday the winds may pick up to at least 25 mph with continued showers and thunderstorms.

Friday highs will be in the 80s and there will be a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms that will continue into the night, when temperatures will fall into the 60s, officials said.

Saturday, temperatures are expected to hover into the 70s, with a small chance of rain into the night when the temperatures are expected to drop to the low 50s.